What's your favorite scene from IB?

[PaulD]

I think all of us Beethoven's fans are waiting for a movie as impressive as Amadeus...why would Beethoven not deserve at least the same quality on the big screen? I think the BBC movie "The Genius of Beethoven" was pretty good (it is available on youtube).

Nevertheless, my favorite scene in Immortal Beloved (which I own as a CD and watched often) when he suffered from a big bout of tinnitus while playing the emperor and is escorted out by one of the three immortal beloved candidate. Totally untrue and cheesy but it works for me as a dramatic effect...

[AeolianHarp]

Amadeus had tons of facts wrong too!

[Pastorale]

I think all of us Beethoven's fans are waiting for a movie as impressive as Amadeus...why would Beethoven not deserve at least the same quality on the big screen? I think the BBC movie "The Genius of Beethoven" was pretty good (it is available on youtube).

Nevertheless, my favorite scene in Immortal Beloved (which I own as a CD and watched often) when he suffered from a big bout of tinnitus while playing the emperor and is escorted out by one of the three immortal beloved candidate. Totally untrue and cheesy but it works for me as a dramatic effect...

It was very cool scene! I loved the way they showed that poor Ludwig was deaf. However, that woman was unnecessary if I'm not wrong. I liked also the scene when Beethoven talks to Schindler about music with Kreutzer Sonata in background, I am in love with that Sonata! Schindler always looked like Schubert to me... In that movie ofc. And were the quotes in that scene by Beethoven? They seemed wise, but I don't think these were totally his. Also, why is violinist Black? I heard the story that Beethoven was Black, but I truly don't believe it. He doesn't look like Black person to me. I don't know, is it true?

[Michael]

Also, why is violinist Black? I heard the story that Beethoven was Black, but I truly don't believe it. He doesn't look like Black person to me. I don't know, is it true?

This is one of the few facts they got right in this movie. The first person to perform the "Kreutzer" sonata, along with the composer, was George Bridgetower and he was an Afro-European. Later, they had a falling-out and Beethoven dedicated the sonata to Kreutzer who, I believe, never once played it.

And Aeolian is right about "Amadeus" which was also completely distorted the truth, especially in the death-bed scene where Mozart dictates his "Requiem" to Salieri, but it just happens to be a much better film than IB.



.

[Peter]

Amadeus had tons of facts wrong too!

Well the main premise (which is known to be fiction) that Salieri poisoned Mozart was not an invention of the film, but had been around for much longer - indeed at the second performance of Beethoven's 9th (May 23rd 1824) leaflets were distributed to the audience showing Mozart with Salieri at his side holding the poisoned cup. Amadeus despite its short comings still remains an excellent drama about a composer, not least for the superb performance of F.Murray Abraham.

[Pastorale]

This is one of the few facts they got right in this movie. The first person to perform the "Kreutzer" sonata, along with the composer, was George Bridgetower and he was an Afro-European. Later, they had a falling-out and Beethoven dedicated the sonata to Kreutzer who, I believe, never once played it.

And Aeolian is right about "Amadeus" which was also completely distorted the truth, especially in the death-bed scene where Mozart dictates his "Requiem" to Salieri, but it just happens to be a much better film than IB.



.

I never knew that Black violinist ruled Europe! Maybe I read Uncle Tom's Hut much more than I should have... It's a great fact! Thank you!!!

[AeolianHarp]

Well the main premise (which is known to be fiction) that Salieri poisoned Mozart was not an invention of the film, but had been around for much longer - indeed at the second performance of Beethoven's 9th (May 23rd 1824) leaflets were distributed to the audience showing Mozart with Salieri at his side holding the poisoned cup. Amadeus despite its short comings still remains an excellent drama about a composer, not least for the superb performance of F.Murray Abraham.

I agree with you about Mr Abraham- the last scene as he portrays Salieri absolving the priest of his own mediocrity and blessing his fellow patients as he is taken away in his wheelchair as the sound of Mozart's laughter is in the air, is full of humorous pathos.

[AeolianHarp]

I never knew that Black violinist ruled Europe! Maybe I read Uncle Tom's Hut much more than I should have... It's a great fact! Thank you!!!

Yes George Bridgetower was a virtuoso!

[hal9000]

I agree with you about Mr Abraham- the last scene as he portrays Salieri absolving the priest of his own mediocrity and blessing his fellow patients as he is taken away in his wheelchair as the sound of Mozart's laughter is in the air, is full of humorous pathos.

The priest plays that part so subtly well.

At the start of the film:


At the end:


The thing with Amadeus is that it is at its heart a lover letter to Mozart and more importantly his music. You can tell when Peter Shaffer talks about Mozart that he truly loves the man and his music, and it shows in the film. It was his idea to not change a single note of his music used in the film, or use one Mozart piece as a main theme that dominates the movie (as opposed to IB which used the second movement of the 5th piano concerto as its "main theme"). He even calls the music the third main character of the film, and you can see why. The film just does not work without it; it lifts every dramatic and quiet moment in the film.

Shaffer also said that beneath all the fantasy there is a kernel of truth to most of what is in the film. Take, for example, when Salieri says to Mozart that he is "the greatest composer known to me" - that clearly echoes what Haydn told Leopold. Or what Peter said above. You could argue, although it's a little bit of a cop-out, that because it's Salieri's retelling of events, that it is because of this that the truth is all twisted.

In the end, it's just a damn good film, inaccuracies an' all. I should also get round to rewatching Beethoven Lives Upstairs. I saw it a long time ago, but I don't remember much of it.

[Chris]

Amadeus is indeed a great film. I agree about the priest - he was played just right.

[AeolianHarp]

Shaffer also said that beneath all the fantasy there is a kernel of truth to most of what is in the film. Take, for example, when Salieri says to Mozart that he is "the greatest composer known to me" - that clearly echoes what Haydn told Leopold. Or what Peter said above. You could argue, although it's a little bit of a cop-out, that because it's Salieri's retelling of events, that it is because of this that the truth is all twisted.

In the end, it's just a damn good film, inaccuracies an' all.

I see what you mean Hal- the film is all from Salieri's perspective. I found the scene when he's going round at that party looking for Mozart HILARIOUS: Salieri is expecting some pristine elegant sort of man and he then sees a little man running round, chasing a giggling woman, and making dirty jokes and discovers to his horror that THIS is Mozart! LOL.

I should also get round to rewatching Beethoven Lives Upstairs. I saw it a long time ago, but I don't remember much of it.

Well it's there on you tube waiting for you.